You want to know the blueprint for creating the number one ranked team in the country? It is really straight forward. Under Armour’s New Jersey based Sports U has followed it to a T and is excelling because of it.
The first and most obvious step is to have talent. Sports U’s 15u would have no problems taking the court with any team, from any age group and from any circuit. The team’s starting five, who all played varsity basketball during their freshman season of high school ball, have been dubbed the “Fab 5,” and with good reason. The team possesses a three-headed monster at the guard position.
Atiba Taylor, Jahvon Quinerly and Luther Muhhamed have given opposing guards fits and already have college coaches knocking at their doors. Taylor is a long lefty point guard with an unbelievable skill set. Standing at 6’3 he has the size to pass over any opposing point guard, and couple that with his vision and it almost is not fair. Taylor already holds an offer from Manhattan. Quinerly brings an unmatched quickness to Sports U. It is nearly impossible to keep him out of the lane. He already has an offer from Rider and a number of high majors interested. Filling out the backcourt is 6’2 shooting guard Luther Muhhamed. Muhhamed is the perfect complement toTaylor and Quinerly. Muhhamed flies around the court at all times and wreaks havoc. Muhhamed finishes above, through and on defenders on the offensive end and always matches up against the opposing teams best player on the defensive end. Muhhamed was described as the team’s vocal leader, and after 10 minutes of watching the team practice that was evident. Muhhamed already holds an offer from Rider.
Sports U’s biggest strength is in its front court. Louis King and Nazreon Reid can both play three or four positions effectively. King, a 6’6 swingman, can handle the ball like a point guard and moves with the fluidity of an elite wing scorer. King already holds offers from Manhattan, St. John’s, Syracuse and VCU. The most heralded of all is 6’9 Nazreon Reid. Reid has the size to play down low with his back to the basket but the skillset to step outside beyond the arc and knock down threes. Reid, who was a member of the nation’s 20th ranked high school Roselle Catholic, has offers from Connecticut, Kansas, Iowa, LSU, Maryland, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Seton Hall, St. John's, Villanova and Virginia.
Sports U also has a talented threesome in Alex Imegwu of Gil St. Bernard, Shackylle Dezonie of Allentown Central Catholic andAlanzo Frink of perennial powerhouse St. Anthony, who all come off the bench. All three would likely start anywhere else but have bought into Sports U’s mission for a common goal.
The second step in creating a number ranked team is ensuring that all the talent is united in its goals. That certainly is not a problem for Sports U. If you ask any of the players how they feel about their teammates and the first thing they say is that they are brothers. Mark Quinerly, father of Jahvon, describes the rest of the team as “second kids.” Much like the University of Kentucky’s 2015 team filled nine McDonald’s All-Americans, Sports U’s players each sacrifices in order for the betterment of the team and in the end they all end up better because of it.
The next step in the blueprint that Sports U is following is to have coaches that have experienced what the kids are going through, have gone where they want to go and know how to relay the message to the team. Sports U’s 15u Head Coach Reggie Carter and his Assistant Coach Jermel Jenkins both have a wealth of experience to share with Sports U’s young men. Coach Carter played at New Jersey’s St. Patrick’s before moving on to the University of New Orleans. In addition to his playing background, what makes Carter the ideal coach is that he is just as firm with the most highly touted player as he is with lesser recruited players, and consequently he has respect of everyone. Carter’s Assistant Coach Jermel Jenkins is not too far removed from being in the same shoes as Sports U’s teenagers. In 2007-2008 as a senior Jenkins led his number 13 ranked St. Patrick’s squad to a 25-5 overall record and a top 10 national ranking. Jenkins then went on to play for Iona and professionally overseas. So when Carter and Jenkins speak, all of the kids listen, and rightfully so.
The last arguably most important step in Sports U’s blueprint is having a program director that knows talent, understands that it needs to work well together, puts a staff in place that is just as good at teaching the game of basketball as they are at teaching life lessons. Sports U has that in its Director Ed Bright. Bright started Sports U over a decade ago to unite suburban and urban kids and show them that they could bond together on and off the court while thriving in both places. Bright has seen a number of talented young men come through his program including soon to be top three NBA draft pick Karl Towns.
Sports U’s number one ranked 15u by indihoops.com will next be in action on the Under Armour Circuit in July when they look to win the National Championship in the Under Armour Association Finals in Atlanta, Georgia.
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